Nick Cordero

Nicholas Eduardo Alberto Cordero (September 17, 1978 – July 5, 2020) was a Canadian actor and singer.[1] He was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role as Cheech in the 2014 Broadway musical Bullets Over Broadway and was twice nominated for Drama Desk Awards. His career also included television and film roles.

Nick Cordero
Cordero in 2014
Born
Nicholas Eduardo Alberto Cordero

(1978-09-17)September 17, 1978
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
DiedJuly 5, 2020(2020-07-05) (aged 41)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Cause of deathCOVID-19
EducationRyerson University
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
Years active2005–2020
Spouse
​
(m. 2017)​
Children1

Cordero died at age 41 from COVID-19-related complications after more than three months in the hospital.

Early life

Cordero was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario,[2] to a Canadian mother and a father from Costa Rica.[3] He graduated from Westdale Secondary School in Hamilton[2] and attended Ryerson University in Toronto for two years before dropping out to perform in the band Lovemethod.[4]

Career

Cordero's acting debut was in the title role in the off-Broadway production of The Toxic Avenger. He also played the role of Dennis in Rock of Ages on Broadway in 2012 and on tour.[5] Cordero appeared on Broadway in 2014 in the musical Bullets Over Broadway in the role of Cheech,[6] for which he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical[7] and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical.[8] He won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical and a Theatre World Award for the role.[9]

In March 2016, Cordero joined the Broadway production of Waitress, playing the role of Earl.[10] He left Waitress to join the Broadway premiere of the musical A Bronx Tale, playing Sonny at the Longacre Theatre starting on November 3, 2016.[11] For this role, Cordero was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical in 2017.[12] Also in 2017, he portrayed Victor Lugo in "Out of the Blue" and "Heavy Is the Head", the fourth and tenth episodes of the eighth season of the CBS police procedural drama Blue Bloods.[13][14] He reprised the role in 2018 in "Your Six", the twentieth episode of the eighth season of the show.[15] In March 2020 Cordero moved to Los Angeles to work in a production of Rock of Ages.[16] [17]

Personal life

On September 3, 2017, Cordero married dancer Amanda Kloots in a formal ceremony.[18] Their son was born in 2019.[19]

Illness and death

Cordero was initially diagnosed with pneumonia while staying with his wife and son at the guest house of former Bullets Over Broadway co-star Zach Braff.[20][21] He was admitted to a hospital on March 30, 2020, where he was later diagnosed with COVID-19 during the pandemic in Los Angeles.[22] He was initially offered hydroxychloroquine.[23][24] Due to his worsening condition, his doctors put him in a medically-induced coma and placed him on a ventilator, and treated him with dialysis and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).[25] He was also enrolled into the clinical trial for the antiviral drug remdesivir, which was taking place at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.[26]

On April 18, 2020, his right leg was amputated due to a blood clot as a result of complications from his illness.[27] By May 1, 2020, he had major lung damage including "holes in his lungs" and lung scarring.[28] A tracheostomy tube was inserted to help him breathe.[29][30][31][22]

On July 5, 2020, after 95 days in the hospital, Cordero died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, at age 41. His body was cremated.[32][1]

Legacy

On July 7, 2020, an effort was launched to rename the Longacre Theatre in Manhattan after Cordero.[33] On September 2, 2021, the Broadway production of Waitress paid tribute to Cordero, with Kloots and the show's cast performing his single "Live Your Life". Additionally, the "Live Your Life Pie" has become a permanent part of the show's set and script.[34] A film of a rooftop performance of a song from Bullets Over Broadway is dedicated to his memory, commemorating his portrayal of Cheech.[35]

On September 2, 2020, American singer-songwriter Finneas released the song "What They'll Say About Us", which was partly inspired by Cordero's death.[36]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes Ref
2007 Apartments at 254 John Short [37]
2011 Don Juan Don Juan [37]
2016 A Stand Up Guy Sal [38]
2017 Going in Style Butcher [37]
2019 Inside Game Pete Ruggieri [37]
2019 Mob Town Vincent Gigante [38]

Television
Year Title Role Notes Ref
2005 Queer as Folk Tuna Wrap 1 episode [39]
2014 Lilyhammer Pasquale 'Patsy' Lento 1 episode [39]
2014 The Broadway.com Show Himself 5 episodes [40]
2015 The Talk Himself 1 episode [38]
2015 68th Tony Awards Himself Performer [41]
2017 Side by Side by Susan Blackwell Himself 1 episode; web series [42]
2017–2018 Blue Bloods Victor Lugo 3 episodes [38]
2015, 2019 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Anthony Marino / Robby Marino 2 episodes [38]

Theatre
Year Title Role Notes
2007 Blood Brothers Sammy Hamilton's Theatre Aquarius
2009 The Toxic Avenger Melvin Ferd III/The Toxic Avenger Off-Broadway
2012 Rock of Ages Dennis/Record Company Man Broadway
2014 Bullets Over Broadway Cheech
2015 Brooklynite Avenging Angelo Off-Broadway
2016 Waitress Earl Hunterson Broadway
2016–18 A Bronx Tale Sonny
2018 Little Shop of Horrors Orin Scrivello Kennedy Center[43]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2014 70th Theatre World Awards Outstanding Debut Performance Bullets Over Broadway Won
64th Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Won
80th Drama League Awards Distinguished Performance Nominated
59th Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Nominated
68th Tony Awards Best Featured Actor in a Musical Nominated
2017 67th Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Actor in a Musical A Bronx Tale Nominated
62nd Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actor in a Musical Nominated

References
  1. Paulson, Michael (July 5, 2020). "Nick Cordero, Nominated for Tony as Tap-Dancing Tough Guy, Dies at 41". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 7, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  2. Radley, Scot (April 24, 2020). "Hamilton actor Nick Cordero now negative for COVID-19". The Hamilton Spectator. Archived from the original on May 29, 2020.
  3. Suzy Evans (April 2017). "Nick Cordero: One of the Good Guys". Broadway Style Guide.
  4. Cordero in Champion, Lindsay (May 8, 2014). "Tony-Nominated Bullets Star Nick Cordero on Quitting School, Getting in Trouble & Woody Allen's Comedy Tips". Broadway.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2017. I left college at Ryerson University after two years to sing in a rock band, Lovemethod.
  5. "Nick Cordero Broadway and Theatre Credits". BroadwayWorld. Archived from the original on April 30, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  6. "Woody Allen Musical Bullets Over Broadway, with Zach Braff and Marin Mazzie, Begins March 11". Playbill. March 11, 2014. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  7. "Tony Awards 2014: 'Bullets over Broadway' has lackluster showing". Los Angeles Times. April 29, 2014. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  8. Gans, Andrew (April 25, 2014). "2014 Annual Drama Desk Awards Nominations Announced; 'Gentleman's Guide' Earns 12 Nominations". Playbill. Archived from the original on May 28, 2019.
  9. Smith, Gary (July 8, 2014). "A busload of love for actor Nick Cordero". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  10. "Bullets Over Broadway Star Nick Cordero Joins Broadway-Bound Waitress Musical". Playbill. January 12, 2016. Archived from the original on July 28, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  11. "Nick Cordero, Richard H. Blake, Bobby Conte Thornton, Ariana DeBose and More to Lead 'A Bronx Tale' on Broadway". BroadwayWorld. August 31, 2016.
  12. McPhee, Ryan (June 4, 2017). "2017 Drama Desk Awards Presented June 4". Playbill. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  13. "Blue Bloods – Season 8 Episode 10". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  14. Miller, Thomas (October 18, 2017). "Blue Bloods Season 8 Episode 4 Photos Out of the Blue". Seat42F. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  15. Levine, Daniel S. (April 20, 2018). "Here's Why 'Blue Bloods' Is Not on Tonight". PopCulture.com. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  16. "AMANDA KLOOTS Shares What Its Like Living With Zach Braff & Florence Pugh". August 20, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  17. "'Never Known A Kinder Person': Actor Nick Cordero Dies Of COVID-19 At 41". July 6, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  18. Fierberg, Ruthie (September 6, 2017). "A Bronx Tale's Nick Cordero and His Bride Perform a First Dance to Wow Their Wedding Guests". Playbill. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  19. Fierberg, Ruthie (June 11, 2019). "Broadway's Nick Cordero and Amanda Kloots Welcome First Child". Playbill. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  20. "'Never Known A Kinder Person': Actor Nick Cordero Dies Of COVID-19 At 41". NPR. July 6, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  21. "AMANDA KLOOTS Opens Up On the Life Altering Spiral With Her Late Husband". Inside of You. August 18, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  22. "Coronavirus: Broadway actor Nick Cordero wakes from coma". BBC News. May 13, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  23. Kettmann, Steve (June 22, 2021). "From heartbreak to heroes: Three books make sense of the pandemic". Datebook | San Francisco Arts & Entertainment Guide. Archived from the original on July 9, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  24. Kloots, Amanda; Kloots, Amanda (June 15, 2021). Live Your Life: My Story of Loving and Losing Nick Cordero. HarperCollins. pp. 30, 63, 146. ISBN 9780063078253.
  25. Pasquini, Maria (April 12, 2020). "Nick Cordero in 'Very Critical Condition' After Emergency Surgery amid Coronavirus Health Crisis". People. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  26. Kloots, Amanda; Kloots, Anna (June 15, 2021). Live Your Life: My Story of Loving and Losing Nick Cordero. HarperCollins. pp. 58–59. ISBN 9780063078253.
  27. "Nick Cordero, Broadway star from Ontario, has leg amputated due to COVID-19 complications". CBC News. April 19, 2020.
  28. "The emerging long-term complications of Covid-19, explained". May 8, 2020.
  29. France, Lisa Respers (May 1, 2020). "Nick Cordero's wife says his lungs are 'severely damaged'". CNN. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  30. Trepany, Charles. "Nick Cordero's coronavirus recovery: Amanda Kloots shares update she hopes is 'great sign'". USA Today. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  31. Pasquini, Maria (May 3, 2020). "Nick Cordero 'Doing Well' After Tracheostomy as His Wife Hopes for 'Another Day of Rest and Recovery'". People. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  32. Pasquini, Maria; Chung, Gabrielle (July 5, 2020). "Broadway Star Nick Cordero Dies at 41 After Over 90 Days in Hospital from Coronavirus Complications". People. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  33. "Fans Launch Petition to Rename Longacre Theatre in Memory of Nick Cordero". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  34. White, Abbey (September 2, 2021). "'Waitress' to Honor Nick Cordero in Broadway Run With Special Pie Tribute". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  35. "VIDEO: American Dance Machine for the 21st Century Performs 'T'aint Nobody's Biz-ness if I Do' from BULLETS OVER BROADWAY".
  36. Darmon, Aynslee (September 2, 2020). "Finneas On The Deep Meaning Behind New Single 'What They'll Say About Us'". Entertainment Tonight Canada. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  37. "Nick Cordero Passes Away at Age 41". Playbill. July 5, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  38. "Nick Cordero". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  39. Nichols, Mackenzie (July 5, 2020). "Nick Cordero, Broadway actor, dies at 41 after coronavirus complications". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  40. "Bullets Over Broadway's Nick Cordero on Crashing the Audition". Broadway.com. John Gore Organization. May 16, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  41. Snetiker, Marc (June 9, 2014). "Tony Awards: See every musical performance". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  42. "Susan Blackwell and A Bronx Tale's Nick Cordero Explore NYC History at 80 Saint Marks in the Newest Episode of Side By Side". Broadway.com. John Gore Organization. April 21, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  43. Megan Hilty and Josh Radnor Star in Kennedy Center Little Shop of Horrors Beginning October 24
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